Working with Chinese culture in luxury hotels in Shanghai: an expatriate manager's perspective on management challenges

Abstract

There are very limited researches about how expatriates face the cultural challenges when they work in China, while it has become increasing important with more multinational organisations moving to the biggest market. The authors attempt to examine this complicated issue which includes culture conflicts, staff motivation, employees' resistance to foreign management, communications, and relationship building (Guan Xi) in the organisation. Expatriates working in luxury hotels were chosen to do the study as its high international integration level. The fieldwork data collection was based on semi-structure in-depth interviews with six foreign managers currently working in international branded hotels, and two participants who have undergone management training in the same industry. It was found in this study that lack of initiative, reluctance to accept responsibility and language barrier are the prevailing difficulties that expatriate managers face in the workplace. Other issues, such as Chinese staff motivation and relationship building also discussed in this research.